As the situation surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus rapidly unfolds, the safety and well-being of our mentors, mentees, stakeholders and the broader community continues to be top of mind. The current uncertainty and sudden change in routine is difficult for any student, but it is especially challenging for our students with learning differences.

Eye to Eye has compiled information that may be useful to our community of educators, students, parents, and supporters during this time. We will continue to update this page with new resources as we discover them. This is a time for us to come together as a community, and to offer assistance to each other in any way we can. If you would like to add a resource to this list, please contact us at [email protected].

Resources for Students

Distance Learning

Many institutions are extending spring breaks and switching to online learning in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

Accommodations, modifications, or other supports guaranteed under Section 504 must be provided. If you have not already done so, communicate with your school’s Student Disability Office to clarify support and accommodations for online learning.

Below are a few tips and resources regarding distance learning:

• Develop a routine and stick to it. Routine and repetition are crucial for successful learning.
• Limit eye strain and fatigue by taking frequent breaks from your computer.
• Screen overlays and software to break up text can be beneficial.
• Text-to-Speech software like Natural Reader can be helpful for reading aloud any text, exams, or presentations in class.
• This website allows for texts to be “rewordified”, use quizzes to check your understanding and extend vocabulary.
• Digital modifications to home computers can be set through the accessibility settings:
  • Mac/iPad—in Settings under Accessibility
  • Windows—in Control Panel under Ease of Access
  • Android—in Settings > Accessibility > Text to Speech Output
  • Chromebook – in Settings under Accessibility

Stay Connected to Community

Eye to Eye remains committed to fostering the connections within this community during a time when you may not be seeing each other as frequently as usual. We want you to feel that your Eye to Eye family is very much so still here for you, and we encourage each of you to be mindful of each other and how your friends and peers in this community are doing. Check-in on each other, offer your support, and we will remain committed to providing the following:

• We will continuously update this page with more resources as we are made aware of them.
• Chapter Leaders: stay in touch with your National Program Coordinator for more information from Eye to Eye.
• Chapter Leaders and mentors: We will share up-to-date information and resources in the Eye to Eye 2019-2020 Facebook Group. We encourage each of you to share resources and information there, as well as share what is working for you during this time.
• Alumn’Eye: We also have an Alumn’Eye group on our Eye to Eye Facebook page. We will be updating this group as well with resources and encourage our Alumn’Eye to do the same.

Resources for Educators / Families

We understand that as families and educators, school closures and/or students being home from school impacts each of you as well. Below are articles put together by current leaders in education with tips and advice for parents and educators during this time:

• Guidance from the Department of Education: Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak
• Understood.org: Coronavirus: Latest Updates and Tips
• Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus; Supporting Families During COVID-19

• National Center for Learning Disabilities: Federal Response to COVID-19: What it Means for Students and Families; New ED Fact Sheet: Students with Disabilities and COVID-19
• Common Sense Media: 17 Apps to Help Kids Stay Focused, Top Time-Management Apps
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: Community Q&A Forum
• Inside HigherEd: So You Want to Temporarily Teach Online
• ADDitude Magazine: How to Explain Coronavirus to a Child with Anxiety
• Google: The Parent’s Guide to Google Classroom

• Education Companies offering free subscriptions due to school closures
• Adobe: Offering their distance learning resource center with lesson plans, projects, and webinars in one place so teachers can find new ways to engage students remotely.
• The New York Times: Five Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About Coronavirus

Staying healthy and managing stress:

We realize that the current national response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts all areas of your lives as you face not only school closures, but business closures, event cancellations, and isolation from friends and loved ones. It is important to find ways to remain calm, stay positive, and manage stress during this time to remain healthy and feel good. Below are tips and suggestions for maintaining a healthy body and mind:

• Stay informed.
  Being accurately informed will decrease worry and stress and allow you to respond productively. The CDC has put together a list of the most important facts to know, and how to best protect yourself. Seek news from reliable sources, and take breaks appropriately. Excessive updates and misinformation can cause stress and undue panic.
  
• Stay active and eat well.
  Go for runs, do yoga, take walks, and stay active. It is great for both physical and mental health. If you can, maintain a healthy diet. Eating well is the best way to maintain a strong immune system. However, we understand and appreciate that access to produce and fresh fruit is not always possible! Eat as best you can, and don’t stress.
  
• Stay connected.
  Just because we might not be able to see each other as much right now, doesn’t mean we have to be completely socially isolated! Make sure to check-in on your friends and loved ones… call your friends/family, FaceTime, Skype, Marco-Polo, utilize social media.
• Spend time in nature!
  Hikes, walks, nature trails, bike rides – these are all things you can absolutely still do! If you enjoy being outside, then get outside. Just try to refrain from doing these things in large groups.

Get out the board games and cards.
If you’re at home with roommates, partners/spouses, or family, this is a good time to whip out the games!

Make a list of movies and TV shows you’ve been wanting to watch.
What better time to start checking off that list of movies and shows than when you’re being asked to stay home.

Get crafty!
Now is a great time to paint, draw, collage, create a vision board, sew/knit, write, or do any other creative activity that you enjoy.

Read/listen to stories.
If you have a book, audio-book, graphic novel, comic book, or podcast that you’ve been dying to get to, why not start now.

Take the time to take care of your to-do list.
If you aren’t able to attend get-togethers and your usual schedule is disrupted, take the time to take care of things around the house or apartment you haven’t had the time to tackle.

Eye to Eye, the school communities, and the students we serve have persevered through many challenges over the years. As a part of this community, please know that the Eye to Eye team is thinking of you and sending virtual elbow bumps your way. We continue our perseverance in this situation and remain committed to the support of this community.